A MOMENT of magic from Allan Jenkins handed Allan Moore his first win as Morton manager last night.

The Cappielow outfit stepped up their pre-season preparations with a match against Blue Square Premier side Gateshead to complete their mini-tour of the north east of England.

And the delighted Ton boss said: "This was another wee level up from Blyth the other day, so I'm very pleased with the result and the performance.

"I thought we kept the ball really well and I hope the fans who travelled down can see we're trying to get the ball on the floor and play football rather than just knocking aimless balls forward.

"But the biggest thing is we've kept two clean sheets. It's still early days but we look as though we won't concede many goals next season and that's a big thing after last season." After a slow start, Morton got to grips with the game. David O'Brien and Kevin Kelbie combined down the left to set up Stewart Kean after 19 minutes.

The striker sent a stunning effort curling towards the top corner, but Gateshead goalkeeper Paul Farman denied him with an equally impressive stop.

Morton were in control and Tony McParland's set-pieces were causing the Tyneside rearguard all sorts of problems.

In the 35th minute, the wide-man's out-swinging corner was flicked on to Kean by Jenkins, but the striker hooked the ball over the bar from six yards.

Then, three minutes later, McParland sent in a swerving free-kick that had the Gateshead defence at sixes and sevens.

Kelbie almost took advantage of the home side's indecisive defending but scooped his shot over the bar. Colin Stewart was the Morton hero when he sprang to his left to deny his old team-mate Brian Wake with a smart save in the 43rd minute.

The winning goal arrived in bizarre circumstances one minute before the break.

With Kelbie sitting injured in the middle of the pitch after a robust challenge by Phil Turnbull, the quick-thinking Jenkins grabbed the ball on the halfway line and asked for the referee's permission to take a quick free-kick.

He then sent an exquisite effort sailing over the head of Farman, who was caught well off his line, and into the net.

Jenkins had a chance to double his and Morton's tally in the 64th minute when Graeme Holmes picked him out with an intelligent through ball but his side-footed finish didn't beat Farman.

Gateshead substitute Nathan Fisher fired one shot into the side netting and had another forced round the post by Stewart shortly before the final whistle.

But the Morton defence was resolute and held out for the win.

Former Ton hero Wake was less than pleased with his team's performance. He said: "I probably should've stuck my chance away and we're not happy, to be honest.

"But I thought Morton played well. They looked organised, got the ball down and knocked it about really well."